Ernest Franklin, illustrator

Ernest Franklin is a Navajo artist from Twin Lakes, New Mexico. Franklin was born January 26, 1942 to the Mexican clan, born for Zia clan. He grew up traditionally in Twin Lakes, herding sheep and taking care of the family livestock. Ernest was a prize-winning artist who began drawing in early childhood. He worked in every medium imaginable, including traditional Navajo silversmithing, rawhide braiding and leather carving, both welded and cast sculpture, ceramic pieces, pencil, oil, conte crayon and pen and ink, but it is his vibrant watercolors of cowboy scenes that were his personal favorites. He called himself an Indian Cowboy Artist.